House of David Baseball Team, The (MI) (Images of America) (Paperback)

by Joel Hawkins and (Author), Terry Bertolino (Author) "On April 3, 1903, Benjamin Purnell, an itinerate preacher, along with his wife Mary, created the Israelite House of David, a religious colony, in Benton..." (more)
Key Phrases: traveling team, colony grounds, colony members, City of David, John Tucker, George Anderson (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The Israelite House of David was founded in 1903, as a religious colony in Benton Harbor, Michigan. An entrepreneurial group of worshippers, the colony contributed much to the community, including a traveling baseball team that toured the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The almost 200 images collected here by authors Joel Hawkins and Terry Bertolino document the history of this bearded, barnstorming group of baseball players throughout their careers. ÝÝThe colony accomplished much within the community, credited with inventing the automatic pinsetter used in bowling and the first cold storage facility in the county. However, it was the House of David baseball players that caught the nationís attention, with their long hair and beards, which was forbidden to be cut or shaved as a code of their faith. As news of their prowess spread, the team received more and more press throughout the country. Much like the Negro Leagues of the same period, the House of David baseball players would criss-cross the country, playing with such greats as the Kansas City Monarchs, Pittsburg Crawfords, and Satchel Paige and his All Stars. ÝÝ

About the Author
Authors Hawkins and Bertolino, both members of the Society of American Baseball Research, have compiled a collection of images that showcase the adventurous and resourceful spirits of these little-mentioned baseball players. With never before seen photographs, they invite the reader to catch a small glimpse of one of the most entertaining and remarkable.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing (October 14, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738507598
• ISBN-13: 978-0738507590
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #864,948 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Review, December 1, 2000

By A Customer

This is a great book that explains the history, and removes the myths of the House of David Baseball Team. It is loaded with photos, many which have never been seen by the public. It also gives a listing of all of the players that have played with the team. The chapters are set up by time periods, and in the middle of the book the authors have put together an extensive chapter of biographies of some of the more well known, and some not so well known, players. It's an easy to read book, with a easy to follow story.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars House of David: Baseball Team, February 5, 2001

By	Henry Levkoff (Homewood, AL USA) - See all my reviews

If you love baseball and appreciate the richness of its history and, just as importantly, its characters, this book is a treat. Filled with black & white photos, this book recounts the exploits of the Israelite House of David baseball team, a group of bearded barnstormers originally from a devout religious sect in Michigan. Interestingly enough, the House of David played against many of the great Negro League teams such as the Kansas City Monarchs and Pittsburg Crawfords long before Jackie Robinson and Larry Doby broke baseball's color barrier. The House of David even had a couple of female pitchers on their team -- most notably the famed Olympian and championship golfer, Babe Didrickson. Love baseball? Treat yourself to one of the more fascinating stories you'll find woven in the rich fabric of the game.

5.0 out of 5 stars Bearded Baseball in Benton Harbor, Michigan, March 23, 2007

By	House of David Museum "Director" (Benton Harbor, Michigan) - See all my reviews

The authors did something no other person has done so complete to this date, and thats compile some of the rarest statistics that exist in baseball....the history of the House of David Team. These bearded baseball players, being the rarest and most sought after athletes of the early 20th century, travelled the entire North American continent, and played just about any team that could field enough players. The House of David Baseball Team is so hard to find information about, yet these authors were able to track down and interview a very large group of old bearded barnstormers, and have offered their journey for all of us to enjoy. The book is very well written, and offers a rare glimpse into the mysterious lives of these be-whiskered shieks. This book is on display at the House of David Museum, where it is continuously used for research by those that desire to learn more about early baseball in America. Both authors should be commended on a job well done!!